Celebrating T Levels week: A transformative course of study

To celebrate T Levels week, we’ve highlighted five things that make this modern qualification a tip-top way to study.

Ever wondered about the benefits of taking T Level Courses? We’ve spoken to Capital City College (CCC) students and industry partners to get real perspectives on what makes these industry-based courses uniquely valuable.

Time Split

T Levels are two year courses that are the equivalent to three A Levels. Aimed at post-GCSE learners, they offer a unique time split combining theoretical learning and practical experience. 

Typically, a T level course involves 80% classroom learning and a 20% industry placement. This means that you have time to develop your technical knowledge with your teacher while also putting it into practice on your placement.

At CCC, we make the most of this combination, using our long-standing and established experience in education along with our ever-growing network of industry links to offer placements with a range of organisations such as the North London Partnership Consortium, NHS trusts, Amazon and Willmott Dixon.

A Senior Programme Manager at Amazon said: “What made me work with Capital City College was the fact that they have a really good curriculum, they have a great partnership with us as an employer, and they are super flexible in their approach.”

Samuel Mir, a second year student studying T Level Accounting and Finance, said: “I chose this course because it was worth 3 A Levels and incorporated a mix of in class study and work experience. The thing I enjoy the most about this course is the ability to put the theory into practice when completing my work experience. […] I also like the opportunities to meet professionals from organisations such as Barclays, Amwins and C.Hoare & Co.”

Training

T Level courses enable students to get stuck into a newly designed curriculum which has been shaped to incorporate extensive practical training. A T Level also provides 315 hours (approximately 45 days) of industry placement, meaning that students get a sustained and significant period of  hands-on training in a real-world setting.

Natavius Boateng-Tyndale, who is currently doing a T Level in  Content Creation (Media, Broadcast and Production) said: “I enjoy doing practical courses such as filming and editing as I feel it allows me to develop my skills in these areas.”

Niamh Sammon, who is also doing a T-Level in Content Creation (Media, Broadcast and Production) chose the course due to the vast  opportunities and hands-on experiences available alongside studying. She said: “I really enjoy the creative side of my course, especially coming up with ideas for projects and seeing them come to life. It’s also great working in a team and learning how the different roles in media all connect.”

Omari Bramble, who is pursuing a T level in Content Creation (Media, Broadcast and Production) said: “I chose to do T Levels because of the work experience that was offered and the versatility that they offered in the course. Through the T levels, I’ve learned how to edit, how to direct and how to act, and I think that will help me go through with whatever I want to do, whether that’s uni or a degree apprenticeship.”

Transformative

T Levels have redefined technical education for students aged 16-18 by offering them the opportunity to gain practical experience while they study without compromising on theoretical study. This regularly leads to a transformative experience for students and employers alike.

Reflecting on her placement at Amazon, Niamh said: “It’s going really well so far! I’m learning a lot about how large-scale productions are managed and getting hands-on experience with different tasks. […] It’s a great mix of classroom learning and real industry experience. The placement part really helps you understand what it’s like to work in the industry and prepares you for future careers or higher education.”

Rebecca Davies, Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors said: “T levels have been amazing for opportunities within our business, to allow young people to come in and provide a fresh perspective on a lot of our processes that we have as a business. It’s also been a really great benefit to be able to showcase our early years recruitment process and have some feedback on that and what it looks like.”

A Tangible Trajectory

T Levels enable students to access higher education or employment. With T Level grades equating clearly to UCAS points, students have access to higher education and can apply for university courses that align with their career aspirations.

Completing a T Level course has enabled many of our current students to develop a clear vision for their next step:

Niamh said: “Right now, I’m focusing on my placement at Amazon and continuing my T Level work. I’m building my skills in production and broadcasting and thinking about what area of media I’d like to specialise in next.”

Natavius added: “I would like to go on to university to study Multimedia Journalism in hopes of becoming a journalist.”

Samuel said: “I would recommend doing a T Level to others because it gives you experience and helps you develop key transferable skills in your choice of study. My next goal is to complete my year 2 projects and secure a degree apprenticeship or university place.”

For more insight into how this qualification can lay out a clear pathway to higher education, read our more detailed account of a T Level student’s journey from college to university.

Talent

T Levels support the development of a talented and employable workforce. In fact, around a third of students who go into employment after their T Level course get jobs with their T Level Industry Placement provider. They must be doing something right!

A Senior Project Manager for the NHS in North Central London Cancer Alliance said, “We have chosen to work with Capital City College because of the commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Our workforce strategy is looking to future-proof the NHS.”

A Senior Programme Manager at Amazon said: “The biggest benefit from having T level students is really having that diversity of thought coming into your early talent pipeline. We are seeing T level students becoming our degree apprentices and delivering amazing programs and projects within the organization.”

Capital City College currently offers the following range of  T Level Courses:

Accounting and Finance – T Level
Animal Care and Management – T Level
Assistant Accountant (Accounting, Legal and Finance) – T Level
Assisting with Healthcare Science (Health and Science) – T Level
Business Support (Management and Administration) – T Level
Content Creation (Media, Broadcast and Production) – T Level (Pearson)
Content Creation – T Level (Pearson)
Digital Production, Design and Development – T Level
Digital Support and Security – T Level
Early Years Educator (Education and Childcare) – T Level
Engineering – T Level
Marketing – T Level (Pearson)
Retail and Commercial Banking Analyst (Legal, Finance and Accounting) – T Level
Supporting the Adult Nursing Team (Health and Science) – T Level
Team Leadership and Management – T Level

If you still have questions, take a look at our blog on What are T Levels?: Our comprehensive introduction to a modern qualification or check out our webpage on What are T Levels?

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